Four arraigned in 'Pistol-whip' robbery series

San Diego  Four men accused in a what a prosecutor described as the “Pistol-whip Series” of robberies around San Diego pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.

The men — Jamarious Porche, 23, Askia Toure, 20, Joseph Ragland, 25, and Michael McGinnis, 18 — were arrested last week during a SWAT team hit at a home in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. They face charges including robbery and receiving stolen property.

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski set bail for each defendant at $500,000 and scheduled a status conference for next week to determine the next steps in the case.

Deputy District Attorney James Koerber told the judge that the men are charged in a string of robberies between March 30 and April 10. He said there were a total of 11 incidents.

The crimes were reported from Hillcrest to Rolando, as well as Serra Mesa and a location near UC San Diego, police said.

Koerber said the victims were accosted on the street by one or more robbers. Four victims were each struck in the head with a gun, and others were made to lay prone on the ground while their personal items were stolen.

The prosecutor said the defendants are currently facing robbery charges stemming from two incidents in the series — on April 7 and April 9 — as well as charges of receiving stolen property in connection with six other incidents.

Property from some of the robberies in the series was recovered at the house where the defendants were arrested, the prosecutor said.

Koerber said additional charges may be filed.

Deputy Public Defender Kevin Milmoe said in court that none of the defendants has an adult criminal record. He noted that McGinnis has a misdemeanor juvenile case.